Acta Neurologica Scandinavica

Research Article

Immunological, Clinical, and Epidemiological Features of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Table 1

Demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings of patients with GBS.


		Total ()	GBS-S ()	GBS-V ()	GBS-O ()	^a

Age (years), mean (SD)		60.2 (15)	60.3 (9.6)	60 (6.5)	60.2 (17.2)	0.98

Sex	Female, (%)	16 (41)	4 (44.4)	1 (33.3)	11 (40.7)	1

Days from antecedent event to symptom onset, mean (SD)		23.1 (10.3)	20.8 (10.5)	24 (14.9)	15.7 (9.1)/	0.15

Limb paresis	Tetraparesis	21 (53.8)	4 (44.4)	3 (100)	14 (51.9)	0.66
	Paraparesis	6 (15.4)	2 (22.2)	0 (0)	4 (14.8)
	Upper limbs	2 (5.1)	1 (11.1)	0 (0)	1 (3.7)
	Normal	10 (25.6)	2 (22.2)	0 (0)	8 (29.6)

MRC sum score (median/IQR)		52 (59)	56 (33)	32 (-)	54 (14)	0.47

Sensory impairment	Yes, (%)	33 (84.6)	8 (88.9)	3 (100)	22 (81.5)	1

Cranial neuropathies	Oculomotor, (%)	7 (17.9)	1 (11.1)	1 (33.7)	5 (18.5)	1
	Facial, (%)	13 (33.3)	4 (44.4)	2 (66.7)	7 (25.9)	0.4
	Bilateral, (%)	11 (28.2)	4 (44.4)	2 (66.7)	5 (18.5)	0.23
	Bulbar, (%)	4 (10.2)	1 (11.1)	1 (33.3)	2 (7.4)	1
	Normal, (%)	24 (61.5)	5 (55.6)	1 (33.3)	18 (66.7)	0.69

Clinical diagnosis	Classical GBS, (%)	29 (74.3)	6 (66.7)	3 (100)	20 (74.1)	0.68
	MFS, (%)	5 (12.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	5 (18.5)	0.30
	Bifacial weakness, (%)	4 (10.2)	2 (22.2)	0 (0)	2 (7.4)	0.25
	PCB, (%)	1 (2.5)	1 (11.1)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0.23

Electrodiagnosis	AIDP, (%)	21 (53.8)	4 (44.4)	2 (66.7)	15 (55.6)	0.70
	AMAN, (%)	6 (15.4)	1 (11.1)	0 (0)	5 (18.5)	0.48^b
	AMSAN, (%)	5 (12.8)	2 (22.2)	1 (33.3)	2 (7.4)	0.48^b
	Equivocal, (%)	7 (17.9)	2 (22.2)	0 (0)	5 (18.5)	0.57

CSF ACD, (%)	Yes, (%)	29/37 (78.4)	8 (88.9)	1/2 (50)	20/26 (76.9)	0.65

Serum AGA, (%)	Yes, (%)	9/37 (24.3)	1 (11.1)	1 (33.3)	7/25 (28)	0.40

Serum systemic autoantibodies, (%)	Yes, (%)	16/25 (64)	8 (88.9)	2 (66.6)	6/13 (43.2)	0.07

Brighton criteria	Level 1	31 (79.5)	8 (88.9)	2 (66.7)	21 (77.8)	0.65
Brighton criteria	Level 2	8 (20.5)	1 (11.1)	1 (33.3)	6 (22.2)	0.65

GDS: ≥3	Admission	29 (74.4)	5 (55.6)	3 (100)	21 (77.8)	0.22
GDS: ≥3	90 days	9 (23.1)	2 (22.2)	1 (33)	7 (25.9)	1

Treatment	PLEX^c	2 (5.1)	2 (22.2)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0.05
	IVIG	37 (94.9)	9 (100)	3 (100)	25 (92.6)	1
	Corticosteroids	1 (2.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (3.7)	1
	No treatment	1 (2.6)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (3.7)	1

ICU admission	Yes, (%)	7 (17.9)	3 (33.3)	1 (33.3)	3 (11.1)	0.15

IMV	Yes, (%)	4 (10.2)	2 (22.2)	0 (0)	2 (7.4)	0.25

Mortality	Yes, (%)	3 (7.7)	0 (0)	0 (0)	3 (11.1)	1

^aComparisons were made between GBS-S and GBS-O. GBS-V is excluded from statistical comparison. ^bComparison was made between axonal and nonaxonal electrodiagnosis. ^cAdditional to intravenous immunoglobulins. Abbreviations: ACD: albumin-cytological dissociation; AGA: anti-ganglioside antibodies; AIDP: acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy; AMAN: acute motor axonal neuropathy; AMSAN: acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; GDS: GBS disability score; GBS: Guillain-Barré syndrome; ICU: intensive care unit; IQR: interquartile range; IMV: invasive mechanical ventilation; IVIG: intravenous immunoglobulin; MFS: Miller Fisher syndrome; MRC: Medical Research Council; NCS: nerve conduction study; O: other antecedent infections; PCB: pharyngo-cervico-brachial GBS variant; PLEX: plasma exchange; V: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; S: SARS-CoV-2 infection; SD: standard deviation.